News - Advocacy |
Wednesday, October 14, 2020 09:36 AM |
Amendments to Open Meetings Act Pass Senate and House, Head to Governor's DeskOctober 14, 2020 Late yesterday afternoon, the Michigan House of Representatives passed SB 1108, allowing local governments (including libraries) to continue to meet electronically, under specific circumstances and for a limited period, protecting the safety of the public and public officials while ensuring public participation and transparency for meetings. Late yesterday evening, the Michigan Senate took up a concurrence vote to support it moving immediately to Governor Whitmer’s desk for signature. The bill which updates Section 3 of the Michigan Open Meetings Act, will deem electronic meetings that took place since March 18, 2020, valid if the public body complied with requirements contained in the bill, and allow virtual meetings to continue until December 31, 2020, for any circumstance. From January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2021 only, any member of a public body could meet electronically due to three reasons:
Here is a link to the Senate concurred bill that has gone to the Governor’s desk (we expect this to pass quickly): http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2019-2020/billconcurred/Senate/pdf/2020-SCB-1108.pdf
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